In my last Substack, I suggested that Spiritual Kintsugi might help us reimagine and heal what is broken in, between, and among us. Kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing pottery with golden glue — teaches that cracks are not flaws to hide, rather they are places where beauty can emerge. When I began exploring Spiritual Kintsugi, I wondered whether we might heal our own brokenness with Love — strong, stunning, golden Love. And if that were true for individuals, might it also be true for families, communities, even nations?
I proposed five Ps that move us toward Peace:
- Possibilities: the first glimmer of gold, the moment we realize repair is possible.
- Provision: the resources – spiritual and material – that make repair possible.
- Persistence: the steady work of holding the pieces together long enough for healing.
- Purpose: the reminder that we repair because the vessel still has meaning.
- Peace: the restored bowl, even more beautiful because it was broken.
Possibilities Comes First
If we don’t believe things can change, we’re not Peacemaking — we’re daydreaming. Possibility is the moment we stop sighing and start imagining
with intention. It’s the spark that says, What if? It’s the shift from despair to curiosity.
One of the first steps in Peacemaking is noticing what’s already working. We don’t always need to invent something new. Sometimes we can adapt something that worked elsewhere. Sometimes we can study what almost worked and ask why it didn’t. Possibility is practical. It asks: What small action could we take right now that might have a big impact?
Gather your people. Take that first action step. Celebrate your success. Then ask, What’s next? Peacemakers keep their hands open and share the gold.
The Takery: A Possibility That Grew
One of my favorite examples of the Possibilities of Peacemaking is the Takery — a multifaith effort to feed people in our small rust‑belt city of Sunbury, PA. A handful of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Unitarian Universalists gathered to ask how we could help. We had little money, but we had skills, relationships, and one rabbi who is an extraordinary baker.
We began by offering free baked goods — sweetness and conversation. But we quickly realized people were hungry. So, we expanded. Now, years later, more than a hundred people come each month for canned goods, household items, sandwiches, a hot meal, and camaraderie. The people we serve now help us set up. Children pitch in. The staff eats the same meal as our guests. Leaders from many faith traditions meet joyfully — in all weather — to share abundance.
We looked at Possibilities. We recognized everyone’s gifts. And the gold began to heal the brokenness of hunger and loneliness.
The Shape of Justice: Another Possibility
At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley, we noticed many girls and women in our region were struggling with period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products for all the women in the family. So we created a small nonprofit to supply period products to rural aid programs. Three volunteers – none paid — raised funds, built partnerships, and distributed supplies across several counties. Women could work. Girls could attend school. As we said: “Sometimes the shape of justice is a tampon.”
Eventually we retired, and another organization took over. The work continues. That’s Possibility: seeing a need, doing what you can, and trusting others to carry it forward. In the case of Shape of Justice, the golden possibilities of Peacemaking enabled women to fully participate in everyday opportunities. Others now continue to bridge those gaps.
Possibility as Golden Glue
Possibility begins when you notice a crack in someone’s life and think — we can fix that. It’s not always grand or glamorous. It’s simply the sweet glimmer of gold that appears when you match a real problem with a realistic solution and you decide to apply your time and talent.
Every success strengthens the hearts of those involved. Success attracts others. Ideas multiply. Communities grow more generous. And suddenly — look at you — you’ve started a movement. Peacemaking is simply using your knowledge, skills, and laughter to make life kinder and easier. Celebrate every success. Let the gold shine. Actions don’t need to be earth-shattering or monumental. Simply making a difference for one person, one community, is an application of Spiritual Kintsugi that allows us to begin healing our world.
The Hard Part: Staying Hopeful
It’s challenging to stay focused on what is possible when we are surrounded by injustice, cruelty, and indifference. When leaders ignore the law. When lies drown out truth. When vulnerable people are exploited. When communities are targeted for daring to care.
Some of our bravest neighbors are fighting these battles every day, and we are grateful. Their actions may not be the work you’re called to do. Still, there is so much needed at this time that if you can find one thing, just one thing today, where you can start applying the golden glue, that will make a difference. And I promise you that there is work in this Peacemaking that will delight and engage your soul.
An Invitation to Spiritual Kintsugi
Spiritual Kintsugi invites us to awaken to what is broken and imagine how Love — golden, steady, deliberate — might help us repair and re‑shape our world. What might happen if we applied that Love to healing, reimagining, restructuring? What if we looked for what is already working and strengthened it? What if we believed a more perfect union is possible — one built on humanity, decency, inclusion, and joy?
We don’t have to wait. In fact, we must not. Possibility is the first step toward Peace.
More to Come
In future Substacks, I will explore the remaining Ps – Provision, Persistence, Purpose, and Peace – as deliberate steps toward becoming Kintsugi artists in our world longing to be made whole and beautiful.
For now, let’s celebrate the Kintsugi Peace Possibilities. Each application of golden glue is made of many small patches; each small repair strengthens the whole. Possibility Kintsugi can heal relationships In my last Substack, I suggested that Spiritual Kintsugi might help us reimagine and heal what is broken in, between, and among us. Kintsugi — the Japanese art of repairing pottery with golden glue — teaches that cracks are not flaws to hide, rather they are places where beauty can emerge. When I began exploring Spiritual Kintsugi, I wondered whether we might heal our own brokenness with Love — strong, stunning, golden Love. And if that were true for individuals, might it also be true for families, communities, even nations?
I proposed five Ps that move us toward Peace:
- Possibilities: the first glimmer of gold, the moment we realize repair is possible.
- Provision: the resources – spiritual and material – that make repair possible.
- Persistence: the steady work of holding the pieces together long enough for healing.
- Purpose: the reminder that we repair because the vessel still has meaning.
- Peace: the restored bowl, even more beautiful because it was broken.
Possibilities Comes First
If we don’t believe things can change, we’re not Peacemaking — we’re daydreaming. Possibility is the moment we stop sighing and start imagining
with intention. It’s the spark that says, What if? It’s the shift from despair to curiosity.
One of the first steps in Peacemaking is noticing what’s already working. We don’t always need to invent something new. Sometimes we can adapt something that worked elsewhere. Sometimes we can study what almost worked and ask why it didn’t. Possibility is practical. It asks: What small action could we take right now that might have a big impact?
Gather your people. Take that first action step. Celebrate your success. Then ask, What’s next? Peacemakers keep their hands open and share the gold.
The Takery: A Possibility That Grew
One of my favorite examples of the Possibilities of Peacemaking is the Takery — a multifaith effort to feed people in our small rust‑belt city of Sunbury, PA. A handful of Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Unitarian Universalists gathered to ask how we could help. We had little money, but we had skills, relationships, and one rabbi who is an extraordinary baker.
We began by offering free baked goods — sweetness and conversation. But we quickly realized people were hungry. So, we expanded. Now, years later, more than a hundred people come each month for canned goods, household items, sandwiches, a hot meal, and camaraderie. The people we serve now help us set up. Children pitch in. The staff eats the same meal as our guests. Leaders from many faith traditions meet joyfully — in all weather — to share abundance.
We looked at Possibilities. We recognized everyone’s gifts. And the gold began to heal the brokenness of hunger and loneliness.
The Shape of Justice: Another Possibility
At the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley, we noticed many girls and women in our region were struggling with period poverty — the inability to afford menstrual products for all the women in the family. So we created a small nonprofit to supply period products to rural aid programs. Three volunteers – none paid — raised funds, built partnerships, and distributed supplies across several counties. Women could work. Girls could attend school. As we said: “Sometimes the shape of justice is a tampon.”
Eventually we retired, and another organization took over. The work continues. That’s Possibility: seeing a need, doing what you can, and trusting others to carry it forward. In the case of Shape of Justice, the golden possibilities of Peacemaking enabled women to fully participate in everyday opportunities. Others now continue to bridge those gaps.
Possibility as Golden Glue
Possibility begins when you notice a crack in someone’s life and think — we can fix that. It’s not always grand or glamorous. It’s simply the sweet glimmer of gold that appears when you match a real problem with a realistic solution and you decide to apply your time and talent.
Every success strengthens the hearts of those involved. Success attracts others. Ideas multiply. Communities grow more generous. And suddenly — look at you — you’ve started a movement. Peacemaking is simply using your knowledge, skills, and laughter to make life kinder and easier. Celebrate every success. Let the gold shine. Actions don’t need to be earth-shattering or monumental. Simply making a difference for one person, one community, is an application of Spiritual Kintsugi that allows us to begin healing our world.
The Hard Part: Staying Hopeful
It’s challenging to stay focused on what is possible when we are surrounded by injustice, cruelty, and indifference. When leaders ignore the law. When lies drown out truth. When vulnerable people are exploited. When communities are targeted for daring to care.
Some of our bravest neighbors are fighting these battles every day, and we are grateful. Their actions may not be the work you’re called to do. Still, there is so much needed at this time that if you can find one thing, just one thing today, where you can start applying the golden glue, that will make a difference. And I promise you that there is work in this Peacemaking that will delight and engage your soul.
An Invitation to Spiritual Kintsugi
Spiritual Kintsugi invites us to awaken to what is broken and imagine how Love — golden, steady, deliberate — might help us repair and re‑shape our world. What might happen if we applied that Love to healing, reimagining, restructuring? What if we looked for what is already working and strengthened it? What if we believed a more perfect union is possible — one built on humanity, decency, inclusion, and joy?
We don’t have to wait. In fact, we must not. Possibility is the first step toward Peace.
More to Come
In future Substacks, I will explore the remaining Ps – Provision, Persistence, Purpose, and Peace – as deliberate steps toward becoming Kintsugi artists in our world longing to be made whole and beautiful.
For now, let’s celebrate the Kintsugi Peace Possibilities. Each application of golden glue is made of many small patches; each small repair strengthens the whole. Possibility Kintsugi can heal relationships and help us imagine a more interconnected, sweeter, more responsible world. Seek those golden glimmering Possibilities. Find the emerging Peace. Rejoice and take your place!and help us imagine a more interconnected, sweeter, more responsible world. Seek those golden glimmering Possibilities. Find the emerging Peace. Rejoice and take your place!
Salaam, Shalom, Peace, and Blessed Be!